Japan wants India to sign CTBT

The Japanese prime minister, Yoshiro Mori, who's on a visit to India, says he expects the Indian leadership to sign the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty soon.

He said that India's prompt signing of the treaty, which bans underground nuclear explosions, would win it respect and praise around the world.

But India says it will sign only after a domestic consensus has been reached on the issue.

Relations between Japan and India have been strained since Delhi ordered a series of nuclear tests two years ago, which led to Japan imposing sanctions. However, yesterday, Mr Mori said he wanted a new partnership between the two countries.

He announced a grant of a-hundred-and-seventy-million dollars in aid to India, following assurances from Delhi that a moratorium on nuclear testing would continue.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service